National regulation systems are increasingly conducive
Key findings
(constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees) [1]
in adopting such guarantees
[2]
Out of the 91 countries and territories with ATI guarantees, 71% (65) reported that their respective guarantee specifies the need for public bodies (Ministry/Agency/Department) to appoint public information officers or a specific unit to handle requests for information by the public.
In 62 countries, this provision applies to ‘all public bodies’, while it applies only to ‘some public bodies’ in three countries. An in-depth assessment is needed on whether this requirement is realised in reality, but nevertheless, this finding shows a positive trend towards acknowledging the importance of a dedicated arrangement within public bodies to deal with ATI, which in itself sets the foundation for both proactive and reactive disclosure. Since such a dedicated arrangement is ideally tasked with record keeping and reporting, this would also greatly contribute to the monitoring on ATI implementation.
[1] Responding countries by UNESCO’s groupings: (a) Africa: Benin; Botswana; Côte d'Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia; Kenya; Liberia; Sierra Leone; South Africa; South Sudan; United Republic of Tanzania; (b) Arab States: Jordan; Kuwait; Morocco; Tunisia; (c) Asia and the Pacific: Afghanistan; Australia; Bangladesh; Cambodia; Cook Islands; Indonesia; Iran (Islamic Republic of); Japan; Kazakhstan; Mongolia; Nepal; Pakistan; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Vanuatu; (c) Europe and North America: Albania; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Canada; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; France; Georgia; Germany; Gibraltar; Hungary; Ireland; Isle of Man; Israel; Italy; Jersey; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Norway; Republic of Moldova; Romania; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; United States of America; (d) Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina; Belize; Bolivia (Plurinational State of); Brazil; Cayman Islands; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Uruguay. *Note: Israel and United States of America withdrew from UNESCO on 31 December 2018.
[2] Argentina, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Kenya, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Morocco, Philippines, Sri Lanka, United Republic of Tanzania, and Vanuatu